Customer Reviews

Ophelia's Shadow Theatre

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Kindly old woman loses her job and place in society when she loses her job as a prompter in a theater. She begins taking in unwanted, homeless shadows because she knows how they feel. Teaches about love, compassion and substitute families. Beautiful, dreamy illustrations show the frailty of Ophelia and the light within the shadows. Not for everyone, but will speak to the heart.

I read this book a very long time ago, but I have never forgotten it. Ophelia, the daughter of two actors, has a very small voice and learned all the great plays by sitting just off stange in the wings, whispering the lines to the actors just in case they forgot them.

one day, somehow, she begins to colelct shadows. they have no place to go; their sources have disappeared, so they are in effect, homeless. Ophelia takes them in, and they live in her purse (because Old Lady purses have all the room in the world...) and at night, on her bedroom wall and ceiling, they perform the great plays as she whispers the lines to them.

eventually in order tor aise money, the shadows decide to shadow theatre; a sheet is strung, and they perform all the great plays. They become famous, and theye arn money for Ophelia enough for her to keep her apartment, and to get a car.

(SPOILER..)

One day, her car breaks down, and another shadow arrives for her, homeless. "Who are you? do you need a home?" "I am death. Will you still take me in?" Ophelia thinks for a moment, and then nods.

whens he gets to Heaven, she is surrounded by all of these people who are waving to her, caling out to her, giving her hugs and kisses. She finally asks, "do I know you?" and they smile and ask, "don't you recognize us? We are the shadows you took in."

And then they once again perform the great plays and several news ones, inw hat is renamed Ophelia's theatre of Light...

This is a rare book. Hard to find (or it was for me) and a rare book in the way it handles death. It is beautiful. And note parents, and adults, that Ophelia chooses to take in Death. she's not scared. She's not screaming. It's just a gentle moment soon followed by the scene in Heaven. So this could be a lovely book to help ease a child's heart if they are aching (or an adult's as well).

I love this book. It is sophisticated and elegant, andthere is nothing else like it.

Always expect the impossible with Ende; as the Neverending Story fascinates and expands the concept of reality for chlildren, even 5 year olds, this story too moves us beyond the expected. The story is touching and mysterious, and it reaches a point that could be the end, but the author instead takes us into the afterlife. Younger children who have not dealt with the concept of death may find the plot twist disturbing, but most great fairy tales (especially German ones) aren't sugar coated, afterall. The illustrations are dramatic and beautiful, and the story is inspiring and transcends expectations.